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Counting theme for toddlers: a week of activities

A counting theme lesson plan for toddlers: what a day looks like, then the week's circle time (two or three minutes, on laps), books, craft, song, snack, letter and outside time, each with what changes at this age.

Plan this week for toddlersThe whole counting week

A day of the counting theme with toddlers

  1. Arrival and free play on the floor.
  2. Sing “One, Two, Buckle My Shoe” with actions; repeat it while you change and feed.
  3. Hold and pass something real for the week (one), and say its name.
  4. Snack: a toddler-safe version of trail mix your way (check the recipe's lines for under-4s).
  5. Outside: a short walk looking for five.
  6. Read Ten Pigs on laps, pointing and naming.
  7. Nap, then the song once more at pick-up.

Counting circle time

  1. Hello song: sing hello to each child by name.
  2. Look out of the window together: sun, rain or clouds?
  3. Show the theme: hold up something real and name it.
  4. Sing: One, Two, Buckle My Shoe.
  5. Read: Ten Pigs (level 1).

Infants and toddlers: two or three minutes, on laps.

Counting theme books

  • Ten Pigs (level 1, free on peabody.kids): Count the pigs to ten.
  • Six Cats, Six Hats (level 1, free on peabody.kids): Six of each, to count and match.
  • The Red Bus (level 1, free on peabody.kids): Count the animals getting on.
  • Look at the Big Pig (read aloud, level 4): A read-aloud: big and little, more and less.

Infants and toddlers: one book, read every day; point and name.

Counting craft: Counting caterpillar

You need (4): paper circles, a paper head, crayons, glue stick.

  1. Glue circles in a line behind the head.
  2. Write or say a number on each.
  3. Count to the end of your caterpillar.

With a grown-up. No heat, nothing hot.

Infants and toddlers: let them touch and hold the materials while you make it; nothing small enough to swallow.

Counting song: One, Two, Buckle My Shoe

The words

One, two, buckle my shoe; Three, four, knock at the door; Five, six, pick up sticks; Seven, eight, lay them straight; Nine, ten, a big fat hen.

Traditional; public domain. From Top 52 nursery rhymes with lyrics.

Counting snack

Trail Mix Your Way from the Peabody Kitchen: picture steps, allergy swaps and safety lines on the recipe.

Swap: Peanuts → sunflower seeds (no shells).

Letter N activities

NnN is for number. Print the two pages (a trace page and a color page).

Infants and toddlers: skip the trace page; show the picture page and say the word.

Outside activity: Count and jump

Roll a big die or hold up fingers; everyone jumps that many times.

Counting theme for 2 year oldsCounting theme for 3 and 4 year oldsCounting theme, all ages

Checked 2026-10-30